Swaziland's Flora Database:
Species Information
Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.
(name current 2016)
Sausage Tree
umvongotsi
(Kigelia pinnata)
Bignoniaceae
Growth form: Tree
Found within protected areas
Swaziland distribution: widespread
Local abundance: very rare
Schedule B
Medicinal
Cultural uses
Other uses
Description (Compton's Flora of Swaziland*):
Kigelia africana - (Umvongotsi, Sausage Tree) Evergreen tree, up to 10 m high, broadly branching, densely leafy, hairless throughout. Leaf stalk c 5 cm long; leaflets c three pairs, stalkless, one terminal, all about same size, up to 11 cm long X 4 cm wide. Inflorescence up to c 40 cm long, hanging, with few large loose flowers, stalk c 3 cm long, bent at end so that flower is erect. Calyx c 3 cm long, leathery, ribbed, shortly 2-5-lobed; corolla deep reddish-purple or maroon, tube cylindrical below, widely bell-shaped above, up to 8 cm across, two-lipped; upper lip two-lobed, erect; lower three-lobed, turned downwards; stamens five of which one is sterile, anthers two-chambered, chambers separate; disc thick, five-lobed; ovary one-chambered with numerous ovules in several rows. Fruit sausage-shaped, hanging, sometimes 45 cm long x 8 cm diam, wall leathery, pulp fleshy, seeds wingless.
* Where species names have changed, these have been matched according to herbarium specimens quoted in this publication.
Included in Tree Atlas.
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References
Culverwell, J., K.P. Braun (in prep). Mlawula Nature Reserve Annotated Flora Checklist (incomplete, unpublished)